Orioles can't accommodate, so Ravens will open on road

Mar. 22, 2013
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Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco hoists the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Ravens will open the season on the road because of a scheduling conflict with the Baltimore Orioles. / Derick Hingle, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

by Robert Klemko, USA TODAY Sports

So, in a statement Friday, the Baltimore Orioles said they could not reschedule a Sept. 5 night game against the Chicago White Sox to the afternoon to accommodate the Baltimore Ravens - and the NFL tradition of the Super Bowl winner opening at home.

"The Orioles have great respect for the Super Bowl Champion Ravens and thank Major League Baseball, the MLB Players Association and the White Sox for doing everything possible to work with us to explore all options to reschedule the Sept. 5 game," the statement read.

"We also appreciate the work of the NFL and the Ravens over the past several weeks as we attempted to accommodate the Ravens' interest in a game the same evening.

"Given the limited options available to reschedule the game at that late date in the season, the parties jointly determined that even an earlier start time would still create such enormous logistical difficulties that it would greatly diminish the fan experience for both events."

The NFL's nine-year opening-week tradition will end this season. The league doesn't want to play football on Wednesday, Sept. 4, because it's Rosh Hashanah, so the Ravens will open on the road, according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.

All this despite several public appeals from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti and his offer to pay for any lost revenue or expenses incurred by the Orioles or Major League Baseball.

The Ravens' Week 1 opponent hasn't been announced yet. In alternatives that would have network appeal, the Ravens could open on the road against the Denver Broncos in a rematch of Baltimore's double-overtime postseason victory, or against AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

With the stadiums adjacent and sharing parking facilities, Ravens President Dick Cass, in a statement Friday, cited a potential (baseball-football) doubleheader migraine - for the teams, for the fans and for security:

"After thorough discussions among the Orioles, the NFL and the Ravens, it became clear that holding both an Orioles' game and the Ravens' regular season opener on the same day would create logistical situations that would cause serious issues for the city of Baltimore, and fans for both teams," the statement said.

"The Ravens greatly appreciate the willingness of the Orioles to adjust the start of their game in an effort to make this sports spectacular happen. But, in the end, anticipated problems with parking, rush-hour traffic, plus crowd and car congestion around Oriole Park and M&T Bank Stadium, will keep the doubleheader from taking place."

To appease Ravens fans, Aiello said the NFL is "exploring potential fan activities in Baltimore around the kickoff game, including a pregame concert."